There are "periodic" comets that appear in a
predictable manner - like Haley's
Comet - and
sometimes a
comet will be discovered by an
amateur astronomer. Throughout history, depictions
of
comets visible with the un-aided eye have been
recorded and within the past 10 years there have
been two
comets that were also visible without aid -
Comet Hale-Bopp and
Comet Hyakutake.

Comet Hale-Bopp

Come Hyakutake

Larger versions of these image are available for
viewing in the
Image Gallery. These are scans of old 35mm prints - but they are mine.